live-in companion assistant

 Change the World One Heart at a Time!

 

L'Arche communities are places where those with disabilities, called core members, and those who share life with them, called assistants, live, work, pray and have fun together.  Experience with people with disabilities is not required.   Essentially, the role of assistant at L’Arche Chicago has five components.  The following is an indicative, but certainly not exhaustive explanation of these components.

 

Inter-personal accompaniment of core members:

·         listen, talk and share experiences with core members to build mutual relationships

·         learn what is important to each core member

·         offer support and advice to help core members navigate personal situations (work, family, inside L’Arche, etc)

·         provide input and feedback to help core members make good decisions and progress towards personal goals

 

Practical accompaniment of core members.  

·         Drive core members where they need to go

·         Help core members schedule appointments with doctors, therapists, social worker, other professionals

·         Help core members schedule dates with family and friends

·         Order and pick up medications

·         Help core members with banking, shopping and other aspects of daily life

·         Provide feedback on hygiene, health or weather appropriate clothing if necessary

 

Active participation in spiritual life and community activities

·         Take turn planning evening prayer with core members

·         Share at least some worship experiences with core members, other assistants

·         Share responsibility for planning monthly community night

·         Attend L’Arche Chicago friend/fundraising and social events

·         Attend regional, zone and Federation retreats and meetings

 

Record keeping and paperwork

·         Complete state of Illinois required 40 hour training

·         Initial and sign core member med books on daily basis

·         Track, chart and sign core member ISP goal tracking sheets as required by individual goal set-ups

·         Record core member spending money

·         Make required annual medical appointments and complete required paperwork

·         Conduct and record fire, tornado and any other required safety drills

·         Complete and file incident reports as necessary

 

Physical maintenance of property and related responsibilities.

·         Purchase groceries, cleaning items and other household goods with help of core members

·         Prepare healthy meals with help from core members

·         Clean house, launder house linens, maintain yard, shovel walk, etc with help from core members

·         Maintain vehicles

 

Qualifications for the position include:

 

• Interest in living faith community

• Desire to work with people with special needs

• Creativity, flexibility, attention to detail, time management skills

• Verbal and written communication skills

• Ability to work as part of a team

• Bachelor’s degree (preferred)

• Driving license

 

Full-time assistants receive room and board, monthly stipend, two weeks, vacation, generous health, dental and vision insurance. We are also seeking part-time occasional respite assistants.  Please go to our website: www.larchechicago.org under the “participate” tab and complete an application.  Then send a cover letter and resume to:

 

Alexandra Baig

Community Leader/Executive Director

L’Arche Chicago

2010 W. Carroll Avenue

Chicago, IL  60612

larchechicago@sbcglobal.net

312-226-1273